PRODUCT APPLICATION WAND
A product application device includes a wand having a rod and a brush operably coupled with the rod. The rod includes a rod longitudinal axis and the brush includes a brush longitudinal axis. A housing defines a reservoir arranged to receive at least a portion of the brush of the wand. A cap is operably coupled with the wand and arranged for removably coupling with the housing. The brush longitudinal axis is offset from the rod longitudinal axis.
The present application is related to a product application device, and more particularly, to a cosmetic product application device.
BACKGROUNDMascara packages generally include a first half defining a reservoir containing the cosmetic product, and a second half providing a removable wand and brush for applying the cosmetic product. When the mascara is closed for storage, the brush and wand are disposed inside a first half, and the first and second halves are coupled so that the brush and wand do not separate from the first half. A user separates the second half from the first half by removing the wand and brush from the reservoir, and in doing so, an interior wiper may remove some of the product disposed on the brush before the brush is completely removed from the first half. The user may then apply some of the remaining product disposed on the brush to eyelashes and/or eyebrows, and then may return the brush into the first half to collect more product or to store the mascara for later use.
SUMMARYAccording to an aspect of the present disclosure, a product application device includes a dual-application brush suitable for voluminous and high precision application and an intuitive cap and housing to ensure optimal application.
In accordance with a first aspect, a product application device may include a wand including a rod and a brush operably coupled with the rod. The rod may include a rod longitudinal axis and the brush may include a brush longitudinal axis. A housing may define a reservoir arranged to receive at least a portion of the brush of the wand. A cap may be operably coupled with the wand and arranged for removably coupling with the housing. The brush longitudinal axis may be offset from the rod longitudinal axis.
In accordance with a second aspect, a wand for a product application device may include a rod and a brush. The brush may include a base and a plurality of bristles extending from the base. The wand may include a teardrop cross-sectional shape defined by a first portion of bristles and a second portion of bristles. The first portion may define a first contoured profile and a second contoured profile perpendicular relative to the first contoured profile, and the second portion may define a different contoured profile.
In accordance with a third aspect, a brush of a product application wand may include a base having a circumference and a longitudinal axis. The brush may include a plurality of bristles extending in a radial direction from the base. The plurality of bristles may include first and second non-overlapping portions that extend around the circumference of the base. The brush may include a first asymmetrical cross-section and a second asymmetrical cross-section perpendicular to the first asymmetrical cross-section. The first and second portions of the plurality of bristles may at least partially define the first and second asymmetrical cross-sections.
In further accordance with any one of the first, second, or third aspects, a product application device, wand, and/or brush may include any one or more of the following forms.
In one form, the brush may define a teardrop cross-sectional shape.
In some forms, brush may include a base, a first portion of bristles, and a second portion of bristles extending outwardly relative to the base.
In these and other examples, the first portion of bristles may define a contoured portion of the teardrop cross-sectional shape.
In some forms, the second portion of bristles may define a round portion of the teardrop cross-sectional shape.
In an alternative form, the first portion of bristles may have an average length that is greater than an average length of the second portion of bristles.
In one form, a ratio of length of the first portion to length of the second portion may be in a range of approximately 1:1 to approximately 3:1.
In some forms, the brush may have a first asymmetrical cross-section and a second asymmetrical cross-section perpendicular relative to the first asymmetrical cross-section.
In some examples, the reservoir of the housing may have a non-cylindrical shape.
In some forms, the housing may have a housing abutment surface and the cap may have a cap abutment surface.
In one form, the housing abutment surface may be adapted for positioning adjacent to the cap abutment surface.
In some forms, the housing abutment surface may have a cross-sectional shape that matches a cross-sectional shape of the cap abutment surface.
In many forms, the cross-sectional shape of the cap abutment surface may be a teardrop.
In one form, the bristles may be constructed from fibers operably coupled with a base constructed from wire.
In these or other forms, a brush longitudinal axis may be offset from a rod longitudinal axis.
In some forms, the first portion of bristles may include a plurality of rows having varying lengths extending from the base.
In another form, the second portion of bristles may include a plurality of rows having approximately uniform lengths extending from the base.
In another form, the first asymmetrical cross-section may be at least partially defined by the first portion of bristles and may include a contoured profile.
In other examples, the first asymmetrical cross-section may be at least partially defined by the second portion of bristles and may include a second contoured profile.
In another form, the second asymmetrical cross-section may be at least partially defined by the first portion of bristles and the second portion of bristles.
In yet another form, the second portion of bristles may define a third contoured profile.
Generally speaking, a product application device 10 is provided. The product application device 10 of
In
With continued reference to
The varying lengths of the bristles 42 of each portion 44, 46 affects the amount of cosmetic material that is captured by the bristles 42 when the brush 14 is removed from the housing 22. When the brush 14 is removed from the housing 22, the bristles 42 pass through an opening of the wiper 36, which is coupled with the housing 22 via any number of suitable approaches. The opening of the wiper 36 has a diameter at least equal to a diameter D of the rod 30 of the brush 14. As shown in
So configured, because the second portion 46 retains more cosmetic material upon removing the brush 14, the second portion 46 of the brush 14 may be used for loading purposes, and the first portion 44 of the brush 14 may be used for separation and definition purposes while applying the cosmetic material. With the shorter bristles 42, the second portion 46 of the brush 14 will retain more cosmetic material and therefore may better load cosmetic material onto a person's eye lashes. The slight curvature of the second contour 54 of the second portion 46 matches the curvature of a person's eye lid to better reach all lashes of the upper and lower lids. After enough material is loaded onto the person's lashes, the first portion 44 of the brush 14 is used to separate and define the eye lashes. The longer bristles 42 of the first portion 44 have less cosmetic material from the wiping action of the wiper 36, and therefore act to separate the painted lashes. The greater curvature of the first contour 50 of the first portion 44 is shaped to reach the lashes in the corners of one's eye. In some cases, the bristles 42 of the first portion 44 may be of a stiffer material to better separate and define the lashes.
Turning now to
In the illustrated example, the base 40 includes a twisted wire that captures a plurality of fiber bristles 42 that spiral around a length of the base 40 from the proximal end 74 to a distal end 78. However, in other examples, the base 40 and bristles 42 may be made from extruded plastic, and the bristles 42 may extend in parallel rows, rather than a spiral configuration. A combination of different material, thickness, stiffness, density, coarseness of the bristles 42 may be utilized to achieve a particular function for the brush 14.
Also shown in
As shown in
In
Turning back to
The product application device 10 of the present disclosure provides a number of benefits for cosmetic application. These benefits include the shape and function of the brush, the off-set orientation of the brush relative to the rod, and the corresponding cross-sectional shapes of the brush, cap, and housing.
Specifically, the brush has two main bristles portions that provide two separate functions of loading product onto a person's eyelashes, and separating and defining the painted eyelashes after loading. The elliptical contours of the bristles corresponds with the natural outer contour of a person's eyelid from which eye lashes grow. The shape of the contours of the brush reach corner eyelashes. The second portion defines the loading function of the brush and the first portion defines the separating feature of the brush. With less product on the longer bristles, a user may more precisely separate and define the painted eyelashes without adding more product to the eyelashes.
Offsetting the axis of the brush and the rod allows the second portion or the loading portion of the brush to have shorter bristles. Shorter bristles allows the loading step to be less-intrusive and easier for the user to control when applying cosmetics close to one's eye. With shorter bristles, a person may achieve more precision than if the bristles were long and extended far from the base. Shorter bristles, allows for the second portion of the brush to be more dense, optimizing the brush for collection of cosmetic product.
The shape of the housing and cap as it corresponds with the cross-sectional shape of the brush inherently instructs the user for proper self-application. When a person's thumb and index finger grip the narrow portion of the cap, the device is in a separation position. When the person's thumb and index finger grip the rounded portion of the cap, the device is in a loading position. In other words, the narrow portion of the cap also indicates the orientation of the separating portion of the brush. As such, the user will know the orientation of the brush just by gripping the cap.
It is appreciated that the product application device may be used to apply any number of various cosmetic products, hair care products, body care products, and/or skincare products such as, for example, a mascara product.
Finally, although certain applicator devices have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, while the disclosed applicator devices have been shown and described in connection with various examples, it is apparent that certain changes and modifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made. This patent application covers all examples of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. Accordingly, it is the intention to protect all variations and modifications that may occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for” or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim(s).
Claims
1. A product application device comprising:
- a wand including a rod and a brush operably coupled with the rod, the rod having a rod longitudinal axis and the brush having a brush longitudinal axis;
- a housing defining a reservoir arranged to receive at least a portion of the brush of the wand; and
- a cap operably coupled with the wand and arranged for removably coupling with the housing;
- wherein the brush longitudinal axis is offset from the rod longitudinal axis.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the brush defines a teardrop cross-sectional shape.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the brush includes a base, a first portion of bristles, and a second portion of bristles extending outwardly relative to the base, the first portion of bristles defining a contoured portion of the teardrop cross-sectional shape and the second portion of bristles defining a round portion of the teardrop cross-sectional shape.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first portion of bristles has an average length that is greater than an average length of the second portion of bristles.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein a ratio of length of the first portion to length of the second portion is in a range of approximately 1:1 to approximately 3:1.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the brush has a first asymmetrical cross-section and a second asymmetrical cross-section that is perpendicular relative to the first asymmetrical cross-section.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir of the housing has a non-cylindrical shape.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing abutment surface and the cap has a cap abutment surface, the housing abutment surface being adapted for positioning adjacent to the cap abutment surface and having a cross-sectional shape that matches a cross-sectional shape of the cap abutment surface.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the cap abutment surface is a teardrop.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the bristles are constructed from fibers operably coupled with a base constructed from wire.
11. A wand for a product application device, the wand comprising:
- a rod;
- a brush including a base and a plurality of bristles extending from the base;
- a teardrop cross-sectional shape defined by a first portion of bristles and a second portion of bristles;
- wherein the first portion defines a first contoured profile and a second contoured profile perpendicular relative to the first contoured profile, and the second portion defines a different contoured profile.
12. The wand of claim 11, wherein a brush longitudinal axis is offset from a rod longitudinal axis.
13. The wand of claim 11, wherein the first portion of bristles has an average length that is greater than an average length of the second portion of bristles.
14. The wand of claim 11, wherein the brush has a first asymmetrical cross-section and a second asymmetrical cross-section that is perpendicular relative to the first asymmetrical cross-section.
15. The wand of claim 11, wherein the first portion of bristles includes a plurality of rows having varying lengths extending from the base.
16. The wand of claim 11, wherein the second portion of bristles includes a plurality of rows having approximately uniform lengths extending from the base.
17. A brush of a product application wand, the brush comprising:
- a base having a circumference and a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of bristles extending in a radial direction from the base, the plurality of bristles including first and second non-overlapping portions that extend around the circumference of the base;
- a first asymmetrical cross-section; and
- a second asymmetrical cross-section perpendicular to the first asymmetrical cross-section;
- wherein the first and second portions of the plurality of bristles at least partially define the first and second asymmetrical cross-sections.
18. The brush of claim 17, wherein the first asymmetrical cross-section is at least partially defined by the first portion of bristles and includes a contoured profile.
19. The brush of claim 18, wherein the first asymmetrical cross-section is at least partially defined by the second portion of bristles and includes a second contoured profile.
20. The brush of claim 19, wherein the second asymmetrical cross-section is at least partially defined by the first portion of bristles and the second portion of bristles, the second portion of bristles defining a third contoured profile.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2021
Publication Date: May 25, 2023
Inventors: David Bourguignat (Brooklyn, NY), Marc Emile Lechanoine (New York, NY)
Application Number: 17/534,374